‘Social Network’ Sequel Eyeing Jeremy Strong to Replace Jesse Eisenberg

The more information is released about The Social Network Part II, the less it feels like a true continuation of David Fincher and Aaron Sorkin’s seminal work from 2010. The past five years have been tumultuous for the digital age, as social media, AI-generated content, and increasingly hostile online political spheres have made it impossible for Sorkin not to write a follow-up about Mark Zuckerberg’s social media platform, which has become the epicenter of today’s volatile sociopolitical climate. Now, the latest news from The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that a major recasting could be taking place, further alienating this “follow-up” from the original.

Along with the most recent news that Academy Award winner Mikey Madison and Emmy winner Jeremy Allen White are circling the project for key roles, THR has revealed in an exclusive report that Jeremy Strong is also eyed to join the film. The Succession star recently made waves for his performance in The Apprentice alongside Sebastian Stan, in which Strong played lawyer Roy Cohn. What’s interesting about this casting news is that Sorkin wants Strong to play Mark Zuckerberg, as Social Network star Jesse Eisenberg has passed on reprising the role.

Should this report be accurate, it marks yet another original and creative departure from The Social Network. With David Fincher not returning to the director’s chair, The Social Network Part II feels less like a continuation and more like a spiritual sequel. Eisenberg was one of the biggest driving forces of the first film, so it will be interesting to see how Strong tackles the role.

‘The Social Network Part II’ Is Losing More of the Original Creative Team

The public’s perception of Mark Zuckerberg and his social media platforms, Facebook and Meta, has undergone a rapid shift since the release of The Social Network, with the social media mogul now having a more enigmatic persona and online presence. It would have been exciting to see Eisenberg step back into the role after all these years, now a different performer (and person) than he was over a decade ago. Part of the charm and intrigue of the sequel to The Social Network is bringing back the actors who defined the roles, and with Eisenberg gone, some of that magic is lost.

Still, Jeremy Strong is an incredibly talented actor who can undoubtedly draw on his past work in Succession and The Apprentice to create a new version of Zuckerberg. He can capture the essence of modern anxieties and worries through the story of one influential and powerful man behind a massive company. Fans of the original film can at least take heart that Aaron Sorkin is writing the screenplay and handling directing duties. With the filmmaker still awaiting final approval from the studio, there is no set release or production start date in sight.

The Hollywood Reporter also notes that Strong’s role in the film could also be that of a Wall Street Journal reporter who was a part of “the Facebook Files” report that the movie is based on. While Eisenberg may have passed on the role at this point, there is still a chance that this is a negotiating tactic, and that Sorkin and Sony Pictures could come back with a more lucrative offer. Whatever ends up happening, The Social Network Part II is shaping up to be a conceptually interesting sequel, even if some of the original creative team aren’t involved moving forward.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter